Volunteer Peter is saviour of bazaar (From The Oxford Times)

75-year-old volunteer stepped in to save annual Christmas charity bazaar in Wallingford

2:43pm Monday 30th November 2009 in News By Herald Reporter

A GRANDFATHER stepped in to save an annual Christmas bazaar at Wallingford that raises thousands of pounds for local charities.

Crowds packed the town hall on Saturday thanks to the efforts of Peter Atkins, 75, who volunteered to run the Wallingford United Charities Christmas bazaar after the Lions Club folded last year due to a lack of new members.

The Lions had run the event for 30 years, but with membership in the town falling to just five, the club closed for good a year ago.

The event, which offers charities the chance of a free stall to raise funds, was set to be cancelled, until Mr Atkins saved the day.

It is the second former Lions event that has been revived in Wallingford, after John Houston, of South Moreton Boxing Club, organised the Pancake Day race.

But an attempt to stage the annual River Thames raft race collapsed because of insurance costs.

Ex-RAF man Mr Atkins, whose wife Betty and daughter Lynda are both former town mayors, said: “When the Lions folded, the bazaar was not going to go ahead. It was always one of the things they used to organise very successfully, so I decided that should not be. I said I would run it and pick up any necessary expenses.

“I’ve been advertising it for a few months and I’ve arranged to get a couple of chaps to help me on the day. The very first thing I did was to make sure I’ve got Father Christmas for his first appearance in Wallingford this year.”

Fifteen charities, including the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance, Style Acre, RNLI and Save The Children, had stalls in the town hall to help raise money.

Former Lions’ president Alan Kings said: “Of course we’re glad to see it carry on going.

“It was very sad when we had to close, because we had run events in the town for 30 years.

“Younger people don’t seem to want to join organisations like the Lions any more.”